Ok – it has been a couple of years now – and I never started this blog because I could just never figure out exactly how I wanted it to be. I initially developed my website to promote my little Scrabble Bedbug critters that I knitted for my mother, who died of Alzheimer’s Disease just over two years ago. I still think of her every single day. Her story is one of compassion, courage, strength, and an outpouring of love. But the longer I waited to tell it, the more difficult it became, and regarding Alzheimer outreach, I became aware that I am only one person. It takes me forever to knit one of these dolls. What difference could I possibly make at such a rate? If I were truly committed to this cause, I would need to start a nonprofit foundation and recruit knitters and crafters from all over the country – not that that isn’t a good idea – it’s just that it is more time than I can commit. I have two other sideline businesses: growing garlic at Barbolian Fields and small-business consulting at Blue Heron Business Services. Plus, our family likes to hike, bike, surf, and kayak (some of these adventures are featured at Whale Tails & Quail Trails), we have 5 kids at various degrees of independence, 4 grandkids, 2 dogs, and a cat, and life is pretty full if not a bit hectic.
Creativity keeps me anchored. Creativity keeps me focused.
My mother would understand.
Starting the blog is perhaps the most difficult. The perfectionist in me won’t allow a scrambled rambling of ideas and images and colors, but that is exactly how my mind works. Too many years as an editor. Finally I decided to bury the perfectionist – just go with it.
I don’t call it a problem with focus, just a problem with having so many different things I like to do. We’re talking about knitting, spinning, dying yarns, sewing, playing with clay, woodcarving, woodburning, mixed media, mosaics, painting, papercrafts, naturecrafts, beading, wirewrapping, photography … Some would say short attention span. I like to think of it as multifaceted interests. Which means I’m not very good at any one thing. And that’s ok. Sure, I’d like to be good at *something* – but not at the sacrifice of everything else.
So I decided (finally) that these pages could be a way of throwing out there into the vast cyberworld of creative spirits a few of the things I’m working on and see what kinds of things other people are doing. I am always amazed at the phenomenal creativity I see out there - and a bit intimidated – but definitely inspired!
And in the process, if I sell a few things to support my habits, that would be wonderful! Maybe I can return the favor. I recently posted some things on Etsy, and I’m trying to figure out how that all works.
A favorite quote of mine by Mark Twain is, “You can’t see clearly if your imagination is out of focus.” Or something like that. Seems like a fitting title to this post: Imagination in Focus. Or possibly, Unfocused Focus. I mean, I’m focused, I’m just not focused.
Ok, I’ll stop now.
Thank you for visiting my site and taking time to read my rambling thoughts. I look forward to hearing back from you on this and on the pages that follow!
